"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many." --Matt. 7:13
People, in general, don't take life seriously. They do not appreciate the glory, the awesomeness, the wonder, the very FACT that it happens, for real.
Those who end up hating, rejecting God, Who created them . . . justify their ingratitude by focusing on their own personal suffering, especially compared to their own personal expectations.
Now, it is true, indeed . . . there is much suffering! This mortal life, this world is a constant battle. It is warfare, pretty much nonstop, since the day you get born.
It's called a fallen world, whose present "prince" is the devil.
Thus, OF COURSE it is a mess!
The Lord is making an example of what life and a world is like that is NOT under Him, NOT joyfully submitted to and worshipful under His grace, love, purposes, design, intent, creativity beyond imagination, REALTY--HE IS THAT HE IS! THE GREAT AND ONLY "I AM THAT I AM".
Here is what I know.
Evil and suffering are very real. THE ENEMY can and does do everything it can do make you doubt in the reality of God . . . to doubt in His love and mercy. You find and know His love and mercy and grace in The Spirit . . . not in this fallen world.
Imagine (and it's not hard these days) the abject and devilish torment and wicked, emotional and physical actions that are done to the innocents, the weak, the vulnerable etc., note, however, the atheists and haters of God will jump to "how could a good and loving God allow this?".
It is a good question. One that anyone with any common sense would think over and ponder and stress about. . . . .
It is quite the crux of all questions for the mortal mind.
There are one of three ways to go, regarding that question, concern.
ONE is to just get mad, indigent, resentful and think that if one were god themselves, they would never allow or create such a world or life or scenario where that could happen. . . . . . .
SECOND is to acknowledge that GOD IS REAL . . . but then decide that He is bad, against you, and throw in with the Rebel--the original rebel, who determined to usurp God's sovereignty and power, imagining (through vanity, pride) that a creature could and would and should do it "better".....
THIRD . . . is to accept and acknowledge and submit to God's sovereignty--to HE Who gives and takes away life....HE Who is GOD . . . and will do what He wills . . . and knowing, through His gracious revelations through His Word, shows the beginning to the end of all His purposes and will.
[Well, there is the worst, maybe a 4th way--the mushy, lukewarm, non-committal, playing both sides of the fence, neither hot nor cold--BLECH! It's barely worth mentioning! . . . but, hey, therein goes a vast majority! Barely worth mentioning . . . but there they are, making up most of the celebrities and fake teachers and pastors and gurus and philosophers and intellectuals and philanthropists, etc.,--the worst of the dredge. . . . BEWARE THAT SLOW SLUDGE mortal roll, facile slide of consciousness and spirit, vainly content with self satisfaction.]
Anyhow. . . .
You can fight, rebel, disagree, attempt to usurp . . . on and on . . . as have all done since the original Fall.....But that is the end of the fools' errands.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
This does NOT mean you live in terror of some mean overlord. . . .
It means that you recognize that HE IS GOD and YOU are not!
HE is making an example, a showing of HIS reality. He is so glorious and mighty and pure, that, for we little creatures (benefited with and in HIS image, in all His parts) that . . . from our miniscule point of view, we can barely grasp His awesome power and glory and ultimate, infinite, endless Being . . . as THE ONE . . . as HE IS THAT HE IS, THE GREAT I AM.
He will do what He will.
Our worst sufferings are NOTHING compared to the glory and joy and love to be found in loving and serving and worshipping Him forever!
As bad as it can be, in this fallen cruel world . . . it is but a vapor . . . a whisp . . . a blurry dreamlike sequence . . . in the organic bed, breeding eternal souls meant for life everlasting, in His presence, FOREVER!
Who dare questions God? Only a fool and/or the deliberately wicked.
Who questions God's design and creative plan?
Lucifer.
The Lord suffered all and incomprehensively more (to the mortal mind and experience) than ANY living creature ever has or will!
How to be THE GOD OF ALL and be mocked, tortured, lied upon, betrayed, physically brutalized as bad as any can be? . . . when at the same time, HE could have called down all the angels and power of Heaven to vanquish the tormenting, libelous fools in a blasting, decimating, fiery instance!
BUT He didn't do that. He was the suffering servant.
He bore all our suffering . . . ALL . . . experiencing the pain and terror and calumnies, ignominy of any and all Believers, AS A MAN, A HUMAN, such that, NO ONE can say . . . that God, The Lord, Jesus does not understand OUR personal pain and suffering!
THIS LIFE IS BUT A BREEZE. Thank GOD if you are challenged and beset upon. . . . The worst is to have a mortal life of ease and favor in THIS world! That is generally not a sign of favor. . . .
Those who suffer and see and feel and know the suffering of others and themselves, while serving, loving Truth . . . are blessed.
BLESSED are the poor in Spirit! As in, BLESSED are those who are humble and not haughty in their own temporary light and life. Blessed are the poor who yearn and thirst and hunger for righteousness.
The Holy Spirit WILL comfort you in all travails. Seek Him! No matter what!
This world is but a bauble-y vanity project for the devil . . . and, but for a brief moment . . . compared to ETERNITY! The Word confirms everything I have just written.
God bless you, God bless us, God bless and please pray that YOU can learn to bless those who hate and spitefully use and curse you! Vengeance is The Lord's, never forget.
Always, do what Jesus would do.
Be like Jesus.
When under trial, think of the Apostles, Paul, the Disciples, the martyrs, saints, Believers . . . and, of course ABOVE ALL, JESUS, our Light and Life and Way and supreme PERFECT example of a mortal life lived in the flesh. Be one WHO LOVES AND SERVES THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD OF ALL!
--brother thomas
